NOVEL WEB Chapter 2
Child actress Kim Sujin.
We met as desk partners in kindergarten when we were five years old.
Before I regressed, she was a girl who absolutely hated me just by sitting next to her.
“Back then it was shocking, but thinking about it later, I understood.”
Kids don’t shy away from anything.
They hide their ‘faces.’
From the moment they’re born, they instinctively know what looks good.
In that sense, I was probably quite terrible before regression.
“Not anymore, though.”
I can’t believe I have a face that makes me smile just by looking in the mirror.
If you’re handsome, you don’t even need to build a sense of humor.
Your face is just funny.
The proof was right in front of me, Kim Sujin.
Giggle.
Without saying a word, Kim Sujin was just laughing while looking at my face.
Maybe because she had been in showbiz since she was five.
“Donghu, you’re really handsome.”
She definitely has a stellar face.
“I know.”
The reason I can be so confident about my face was because of my special perks.
Normally, a guy would struggle to talk to anyone, let alone a girl.
But these perks turned me into a master of eloquence.
“What about me?”
“You? What about you.”
“…Am I pretty too?”
“Not really.”
“What? How can you say that…. Uweeeng!”
“Donghu… please don’t make the girl cry again.”
As soon as Sujin started crying, the teacher rushed over to lecture us.
But I couldn’t help it.
“It’s true she’s not pretty.”
Right now, Sujin was more cute than pretty.
Then she gradually matured and blossomed into a top-tier actress.
It’s no wonder one of my life achievements is having been classmates with Kim Sujin in kindergarten.
“But have you thought about what I told you last time?”
“You mean trying out for an audition?”
“Yeah! I really think you’d do amazing!”
“I’ll think about it.”
This was a development that would never have happened before my regression.
Because of her outstanding looks, Kim Sujin actively recommended me to the PD of a children’s program.
I was able to formally apply for the audition coming up soon.
“Being a child actor is worth a shot.”
But I was skeptical if my family could handle that.
Having a child actor in a double-income household would mean they would turn into a single-income one.
No child actor exists without parental care.
Even if such a thing did exist, a manager would need to be attached quickly.
“But I’m totally a newbie, so there’s no way that would happen.”
So, this was an issue I had to think about.
“How about we meet after today? You said you would come pick me up.”
“The PD person? You?”
“That PD, is he talking about you?”
“Yeah!”
“Did you start to stand out from that time?”
Honestly, I don’t know much about Kim Sujin’s life story. We were in the same kindergarten when we were five, and later on, I noticed she became a top star. But to think her signs of success started at five… She was totally different from the get-go.
“Then let me call my parents for a bit.”
“Okay!”
Did Sujin take that as a positive response? She nodded constantly and smiled brightly. It’s funny to think that the girl who used to yell at us not to stick together is now smiling like this. What a handsome sight!
+++++
The children’s program “Kyaruk Dr.!” is a staple created by the kids’ channel ‘Tooni Train.’ It’s like a hero that has bravely survived among countless animations. The main MC, Dr. Kyaruk, and several child actors come out to enjoy various games.
The reason the show gets good reactions is that all the child actors are good-looking. They’ve gathered a bunch of kids who clearly look like future stars. Naturally, it was hard not to be popular among the kids.
And among them, the most brilliant talent was…
“Sujin, you’re here?”
“Yes!”
It was Kim Sujin. Even though she was barely old enough to graduate from kindergarten, her acting skills were no joke. Crying on cue was a given. A genius among geniuses, skilled at changing and hiding her emotions. She just hadn’t found the piece that would let her soar yet, but once the wind blew, she could devour everything like a typhoon.
And to prove that point, she was receiving the highest pay on “Kyaruk Dr.!”
But recently, Sujin had been consistently asking for a favor…
“Are you really going to watch today?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll definitely watch.”
She wanted me to watch one kid’s audition.
‘There’s one spot open though.’
PD Kim Youngmo of “Kyaruk Dr.!” fiddled with his cap. It was a habit he developed when he was deep in thought. The show was so popular that there were countless lobbying temptations, from “Can you include my kid?” to “I’m someone important, and I know so-and-so, so please look at my kid.”
He’d even felt significant pressure from some big places before. However, every single time, Kim Youngmo had refused them all. The important thing in “Kyaruk Dr.!” isn’t just to include someone famous or good-looking. It’s about organizing the cast under his own philosophy.
So, he usually didn’t even give out audition opportunities.
‘But it’s Sujin asking for this favor for the first time.’
The gem of the show, Kim Sujin, who guaranteed a minimum rating of over 6%, couldn’t be turned down firmly.
I couldn’t firmly refuse the request.
“Well, I guess I can just let it slide.”
Isn’t this the time for playing house and talking about marriage and love?
The feeling of liking someone right now must surely be a childish emotion.
“Seriously! Seriously! He’s super handsome!”
“Oh boy, I’m going to get a wax in my ears at this rate.”
Isn’t this the age when you say you want to marry your dad?
“But when is that friend coming? Am I supposed to just wait here?”
“Ah… I guess the parents are on a long call.”
What if he doesn’t come after all?
Kim Sujin’s forehead was written with that thought.
‘Why is he so restless over that guy?’
Even in ‘Gyaruru Doctor!’, the prince didn’t budge no matter what the kid actors did.
And yet, she’s worried because he’s taking a little long.
‘Kids these days sure fall in love fast.’
Kim Youngmo gave a warm smile to ease Sujin’s worries.
A smile that said this was nothing to wait for.
‘It’s ridiculous waiting in front of the kindergarten gate for a van…’
Suddenly!
Stopping his thoughts, Kim Youngmo hopped out of the van.
Clunk clunk.
He hurriedly opened the locked door and dashed out.
“Hey, you! What’s your name?!”
It was the first time he saw him.
Such a handsome face!
Just calling him handsome doesn’t even do it justice.
A kid who looks like he’s glowing actually exists.
In this moment, Kim Youngmo wanted to think it was destiny.
Meeting such an absurdly good-looking kid could only be described as a miracle.
“Oh, Donghu!”
Just then, he heard Sujin’s voice from behind.
With quick thinking, Kim Youngmo grasped the situation and came to a conclusion.
“Accepted.”
“Huh?”
“Could I possibly have a word with your parents?”
+++++
Kim Donghu’s parents were very ordinary folks.
Prioritizing a stable life without big ambitions, they were realists.
For them, an audition was as unexpected as lightning on a clear day.
“What?! My kid?!”
– Yes, yes, Donghu said he already got permission. It seems I should explain it myself.
“Ah, uh, wait a moment.”
– Yes, ma’am, there’s no rush at all, just take your time.
Kim Donghu’s mom, Lee Yoo-hyun.
She had lived her whole life without any shine.
But there was one thing she could recognize.
‘My kid is different.’
Every parent thinks their child is special.
But even considering that, her son was incredibly handsome.
So, it seems like I had expected moments like this to come someday.
“I never thought it would start when I was five.”
What should I do? Should I discuss this with my husband?
Suddenly, Lee Yoo-hyun’s eyes lit up.
“No, this is all just experience.”
With our finances being tight and not being able to do much, I can’t let this opportunity slip away.
“Can I go see the site myself?”
The problem is, it could be a scam.
So, it definitely made sense to go together.
“When Dong-ho called, I thought it was just talk.”
The scale had grown, but it didn’t matter.
After years of work, Yoo-hyun had the strength to suddenly take a day off.
“Of course, ma’am. May I ask where you are? We will escort you.”
“Oh, then let me tell you where I am…”
She’s going to find her son’s light.
Lee Yoo-hyun is on her way.
+++++
“Why is everything happening so fast?”
No matter how clueless I am about the entertainment industry, I could tell this situation was strange.
Two phone calls, mom takes a day off from work, and the PD I just met is taking mom to the broadcasting station.
“Can you just show up like this?”
I was parachuted right into a famous program like [Dr. Gya-reuk].
What on earth is the PD thinking, pushing so hard?
“Wait, am I really that good-looking?”
I did spend a day and a half customizing my look.
Even I have to admit I made myself look pretty good.
But I never thought about how others might perceive it.
I’ve never looked that handsome, so honestly, I’m a bit flustered.
What’s happening now is on a different level than making a five-year-old girl cry.
Bump.
As the van went over a speed bump and lifted slightly,
I felt my mom’s hand gripping mine tightly.
She seemed to be shaking a little.
“Our mom was so young back then.”
Caught up in a strange sentiment, I looked out the window feeling a little choked up.
Planning to build a strong bond with Kim Su-jin has already brought me to the broadcasting station.
“Things are going too well, right?”
Am I becoming a star?